What is Elsewar?
Elsewar takes the familiar roguelike deckbuilder formula and adds a layer of strategic desperation that makes every win feel earned. You aren't just playing cards; you're commanding an army where survival matters more than raw damage output.
Gameplay
You’re diving into Elsewar, a fantasy roguelike deckbuilder from Sannatorium Studios that’s actually a sleeper hit. It doesn’t just copy the Slay the Spire homework; it flips the script on attrition. In most deckbuilders, you just stack damage until the enemy dies. Here, you’re managing an actual army of units, and the real struggle is keeping them alive while fighting monsters. It’s less about 'can I kill this boss' and more about 'can I survive this war without losing my entire squad.' The loop is super addictive because you’re constantly hunting for card synergies that mitigate that attrition. If you build a deck that just blasts damage but ignores your unit health, you’ll hit a wall real fast. This forces you to actually think about army composition, giving runs way more variety than the usual 'fire deck' or 'poison deck' meta. It’s not perfect, though. Since it’s in Early Access, the UI can feel clunky in spots, and the learning curve for how attrition scales is steep. You’ll probably lose your first few armies before it clicks, but once it does, the rush is real.
Key Features
- Manage attrition of an army
- Strategic unit composition synergies
- Fighting monsters with varied units
- Early Access with rough edges
Screenshots
Verdict
“Only started dabbling with the game, but having tons of fun already with a lot to discover regarding deck/unit synergies. For an early access title the game is engaging, fun, and replayable! Give it a…”
“Looks simple at a start, but gets a lot more complex once you get it! I'd prefer some of the backgrounds to be a bit "less busy" as it could sometimes reduce readability more than they add to the arts…”
If you’re into the genre and don’t mind Early Access rough edges, it’s absolutely worth your time for $12.99. Skip it if you want a polished, instant-on experience or hate managing unit health instead of just dealing damage.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 03.10.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.